At a high level, WiFi and Bluetooth speakers do the same thing — they connect to a remote device to play audio without a wired connection. But these two wireless technologies work in fundamentally different ways, and these differences can affect everything from their range and audio quality to their compatibility with other devices.

If you came here looking for a definitive “winner” between WiFi and Bluetooth technologies, you’ll find the reality is more nuanced. Each technology has its advantages (which explains why many Sonos products feature both capabilities). WiFi excels at streaming lossless audio thanks to its greater bandwidth, while Bluetooth is generally more portable.

In this guide, we’ll pinpoint what separates WiFi and Bluetooth so you can find the technology that best fits your audio experience.

How do WiFi and Bluetooth connect to wireless devices?

Both WiFi and Bluetooth speakers use radio waves to transmit audio to wireless devices. They just do it in distinct ways.

WiFi speakers connect to a wireless internet network, like the one you have in your home. One advantage of a wireless network is that it can handle a large amount of data transmitted over multiple devices at once. This allows for high-quality, lossless audio streaming to your speaker even if your phone, laptop, and other devices are simultaneously using the same network.

Bluetooth speakers, on the other hand, create a direct wireless connection between the speaker and the music-playing device. Think of it as a one-to-one, short-range radio signal — no internet network or router required. Pairing your Bluetooth-enabled device with a Bluetooth speaker can usually be done with one click. This means Bluetooth is generally quicker to set up than WiFi, though this approach also limits its range and audio quality.

So, it’s clear that WiFi and Bluetooth aren’t the same. But which is better? It depends on the specific dimensions and qualities that matter most to you.

Portability

Bluetooth doesn’t require an internet connection or wireless network, so it’s generally the more portable technology. If you wear your Sonos Ace headphones on your commute or take your Sonos Roam 2 to a cookout in the park, you’re almost certainly using Bluetooth technology to connect your devices.

Another plus in terms of portability is that Bluetooth speakers tend to have a longer battery life than WiFi speakers. This owes to the fact that a Bluetooth connection uses less power to transmit data, prioritizing energy efficiency over other areas where WiFi wins out, like speed and bandwidth.

While they can be just as compact and lightweight as Bluetooth speakers, WiFi speakers require a wireless network connection to function. This limits where you can use them. Before you bring a WiFi speaker over to a friend’s house or outside gathering, make sure there’s a reliable internet connection you can use to connect your devices.

Of course, many portable speakers can connect via Bluetooth and WiFi. So, it’s less about choosing the right speaker and more about choosing the right type of connection for each situation.

Audio quality

WiFi's broader bandwidth allows it to transmit more audio data than Bluetooth, making it capable of streaming lossless audio files exactly as they were recorded. If you prefer to stream high-quality audio via music services like Apple Music or Amazon Music HD, a solid WiFi connection should be able to transmit lossless audio data that retains every aspect of the original recording.

Bluetooth technology has less bandwidth to work with. This means that audio data is often compressed so that it can travel over a Bluetooth connection more efficiently. The compression process can strip away some subtle details that may affect the quality of your listening experience.

With that said, recent advancements in Bluetooth technology have led to some speakers and earbuds that actually do support lossless audio. Sonos Ace is among a small group of headphones that, with some specific device configurations, can achieve lossless audio with a Bluetooth connection. For other speakers, like Sonos Move 2, Bluetooth can still deliver clear and detailed sound on the go, though you’ll want to connect to WiFi for the best audio experience.

Connection stability

WiFi usually offers a more stable connection, as long as you’re within a comfortable range of the network router. As you may know from your experience with your home WiFi network, you can typically achieve a good connection even through walls and over relatively long distances, such as from one end of your house to the other.

But the stability of your WiFi connection may suffer from local internet outages, issues with your router, or too many devices sucking up bandwidth at once. So, even though a WiFi signal is impressively durable and consistent within the network range, the stability of your connection may depend on environmental factors out of your control.

Bluetooth signals may have more trouble passing through certain types of physical barriers. Dense materials, like concrete, and materials with high electrical conductivity, like glass and metal, pose particular problems for connection stability. If you’re listening to music on your phone via a Bluetooth connection, incoming phone calls and notifications can also interrupt your streaming connection.

Bluetooth devices operate in the 2.4 GHz frequency band — the same band used by other wireless devices including cordless phones and microwaves. When the 2.4 GHz band gets crowded, your Bluetooth speaker may experience some limitations or interruptions. WiFi speakers also operate in the 2.4 GHz band, but they can often hop over to the less crowded 5 GHz band at times of high traffic, so interruptions are less common.

Of course, recent evolutions in Bluetooth technology have led to better channel classification, so frequency impedances are essentially becoming a non-issue in newer products like Sonos Ace.

Source range

Stability and range issues are closely related, though range specifically refers to drop offs caused by the physical distance of a wireless connection.

WiFi speakers generally have a wider range than Bluetooth speakers. A typical WiFi network covers a range of 100 to 200 feet (30 to 60 meters), though that can extend even further in outdoor conditions without walls or other barriers to interfere. So if you’re planning on installing outdoor speakers in your backyard, you should still be able to connect those speakers to your home WiFi network.

Traditional Bluetooth technology was designed for relatively short-range connections, and many Bluetooth speakers top out at a range of around 30 feet (10 meters). This doesn’t pose a serious issue for most of the ways you’d use a Bluetooth speaker. If you’re bringing a portable speaker to the park or strapping one on your hip for a hike, it’s likely to stay on or near your body and thus well within standard Bluetooth range.

So, WiFi generally wins in measures of range, though Bluetooth technology is catching up fast. Devices equipped with Bluetooth version 5.0 and higher can maintain a connection over an impressive range of up to 800 feet under ideal conditions.

Home sound system integration

When designing a home sound system, you’re often dealing with the issue of connecting multiple different components — a soundbar, wireless speakers, and maybe a subwoofer. For a multi-room audio setup like this, WiFi is the best and only option.

Remember: Bluetooth technology is designed to facilitate a one-to-one connection between devices. When it comes to connecting a multi-component system, that is its downfall. Which isn’t to say that Bluetooth speakers can’t be part of a home sound system. Because many Sonos wireless speakers allow for both WiFi and Bluetooth connections, you can connect them to your system over WiFi and still take them on the go with a Bluetooth connection.

Find your next wireless speaker

There’s no better or worse option between WiFi and Bluetooth — each has its time and place. When you’re listening to music at home, a WiFi speaker offers the best combination of audio quality and connection stability, not to mention the option to stream over multiple devices at once. And when you’re on the go, nothing really beats the simplicity and portability of a Bluetooth speaker.

Sonos makes it easy to listen to high-quality audio wherever you are. Create a multi-room audio system with our wireless speakers and soundbars, and keep the music going wherever you roam with our headphones and portable speakers.